Electrical relay.



E. S. NEAL, ADMINISTRATBIX.

ELECTRICAL RELAY. APPLIQATI N rum) MAB. 4, 1002.

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' A. D. NEAL, DEGD.

, E. 8. REAL, ADMINIS'TRATRIX.

ELECTRICAL RELAY.

APPLICATION FILED MAL-1, 1902.

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No. 795,852. PATENTED AUG. 1, 1905.

A. D. NEAL, DECD.

E. s. NEAL, ADMINISTEATRIX.

ELECTRICAL RELAY. APPLIQATI'ON FILED MAR. 4. 1902.

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y Wig UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT D. NEAL, OF SOUTH BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS; EMILY S. NEAL ADMINISTRATRIX OF SAID ALBERT D. NEAL, DECEASED.

ELECTRICAL RELAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1905.

Application filed March 4, 1902. Serial No. 96,636.

.ful Improvementin Electrical Relays,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electrical relays to be used in systems in which the operator is enabled to select any one of a large number of circuits with the object of doing work in the circuit selected.

One object of my invention is-to provide a relay of the character described which will materially reduce the number of instruments and wires employed in the selection of a large number of circuits.

My invention contemplates a construction wherein by the use of pole-changing keys I am enabled to reverse the electrical connection between the terminals of one of my relays and the poles of the battery, first joining one pole--say the positive poleto one relayterminal and the negative pole to the other relay-terminal and then reversing the connection so as to present the positive pole of the battery to the terminal of the relay to which the negative pole was previously connected and the negative pole to the terminal to which the positive pole had previously been connected. In other words, I reverse the direction of the flow of the current.

The mechanical construction of the set of two cooperating relays invented by me is such that by operating the pole-changing keys controlling one relay before operating the polechanging keys controlling the other relay any one of four circuits may be selected, and then by reversing the order (as regards time) of operation of said pole-changing keys any one of four other and different circuits may be selected. Hence by the use of the set of two cooperating polarized relays any one of eight circuits may be selected. ing another polarized relay identical in construction with one of the polarized relays forming one of the set of two just referred to and operating this new instrument in combination with the other of. the said set of two I form a set of three polarized relays, two of which are identical in construction and by the operation of which separatelyin combination with the other (but never the three together) I am enabled to select any one of sixteen circuits. Then, again, by introducing an additional set of two relays differing in construc- Then by introduc-' tion in the same manner that the first set above mentioned differed, I am enabled in the same manner and with proper connections, employing the same number of line-wires, to select eight. more circuits, or twenty-four circuits in a In each of the twenty-four circuits above mentioned may be formed divided circuits of, say, four branches, and magnet-coils of non-polarized relays may be introduced into each of said divided circuits and be placed in circuit with one of the polarized relays above mentioned.

The system of subcircuits mentioned does not form a part of the invention intended to be covered by the present application, inasmuch as said system forms the subject-matter of my application, Serial No. 79,122, filed October 18, 1901.

In the drawings illustrating one form of my invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of a set of two of the polarized relays. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of so much of the systemin which the relays are used as is necessary to illustrate an application of the invention. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the extremities of the cooperating armatures of the set of two polarized relays. Figs. 5 to 12, inclusive, are detail views showing the operation of said relays. Fig. 13 is a View illustrating the relative arrangement of the extremities of the three armatures when three are used in a set. Figs. 14, 15, and 16 are elevation, section, and plan views, respectively, of my improved relay, showing also the relative positions of the extremities of the armatures q and S. Fig. 17 is a perspective View of the extremities of armatures q and S in normal or inoperative position.

I will first describe in detail the set of polarized relays illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Preferably upon a hard-rubber base 82 are mounted the permanent magnets 83 and 85 of the polarized relays 77/ and 9, respectively. A description of one of these polarized relays will suffice, since they are similar in construction. The cores 86 of the coils 87 are joined by the yoke 88, which is mounted upon the permanent magnets of the relay. Upon the ends of the cores are adjustably secured by screws 92 the pole-pieces 90, above which is the plate 91, the screws extending through the plate 91 and the adjustable pole-pieces 90 At the rear end of the into the cores 86.

plate 91 upon its upper face is a block 93, which carries two fiat springs 94:, between which projects upwardly from the plate 91 a stop-pin 95. A pair of screws 89 serve to adjust the tension of the flat springs 94. The armature is pivotally mounted in the plate 91 between lugs 96, which project from itslower face at the rear end. Projecting upwardly from the armature of each of said polarized relays is a pin 97, which engages between the flat springs 9a in front of the stop-pin 95. In order to preserve lightness, and thereby quickness, of action, the part of the armatures q and s which projects beyond the pole-pieces of their respective relays may be made of aluminium. The armatures of the polarized relays n andp are differently constructed near their free ends. I will describe first the extremity of the armature s. Secured to the free end of said armature is an insulating material, such as a hard-rubber block 100. As shown in Fig. 8, the face of the block 100 is formed with two recesses 98 and 99. At the corners formed at the junction of the side faces of the block 100 with the side walls of its recesses 98 and 99 are placed insulations 101, which serve to separate and insulate from each other contact-pieces 102, 103, 10 1, and 105, which are secured at the side faces of the block 100, contact-pieces 106 and 107, which are secured to the side walls of the recess 9S, and contact-plates 108 109, which are secured to the side walls of the recess 99, and electrically connected with each of the said contact-plates secured to the block 100 is a wire, which wires are gathered together and pass in a groove on the under face of.the aluminium part of the armature r and thence through the tube 112, mounted on the base 82. (See Fig. 2.)

The free end of the armature q of the polarized relay n is provided with contact-pins 110 and 111, which pass through the armature, so as to project from its upper and lower faces. The pins 110 and 111 are attached to the terminal of the local battery, as shown in Fig. 3, and the contact-plates 102 to 109, inclusive, are each attached to one terminal of one of the local circuits energized by said battery, so that when either of the contact-pins 110 or 111 contacts with either one of the contact-plates 102 to 109, respectively, such contact serves to close a local circult.

To illustrate the selection of a particular local circuit and the coaction of a pair of the relays, the operation of the coacting relays n and P will be described in detail. Figs. 5 to 12, inclusive, illustrate the different positions of the armaturess and q in the selection of the different circuits to which the contactplates 102'to 109 are attached.

As before explained, the armatures Q and s are moved either to the right or left, as desired, according to the direction in which thecurrent in the main line is caused to fiow through the magnets of said relays, which direction of flow of current is controlled by pole-changing contact-keys, which will be hereinafter more fully explained. Assuming that a current was caused to flow in the relay P first, causing its armature s to move to the left, and a current was then caused to flow through the relay n, causing its armature q to move to the right, which movements of the two armatures are illustrated in Fig. 5, the contact-pin 110 would in such case contact with the plate 106, thereby causing a current to flow through the wire attached to the armature 9, through said pin 110, through contact-plate 106, and out through the local circuit terminating at contact-plate 106. Fig. 6 illustrates a movement of the armature s first, but to the right, and the movement of the armature q second to the right. thereby causing the pin 111 to contact with the contactplate 109. Fig. 9 shows that armature 8 moved to the left first, the armature q to the left secondly, thereby causing pin 110 to contact with the contactplate 107. Fig. 10 shows the armature s to have moved to the right first and the armature q to the left secondly, thereby causing pin 111 to contact with the contact-plate 108. In each of Figs. 5, 6, 9, and 10, illustrating the different positions 'of the armatures q and s, when the relays P and n have been energized the armature 8 moved first and the armature 1 moved secondly. In Figs. 7, 8, 11, and 12 the armature (1 moves first and the armature s secondly.

Beginning with Fig. 7, the armature (1 moved to the right first and the armature s to the right secondly, thereby causing the pin 111 to contact with contact-plate 105 and close the local circuit to which contact-plate 105 is attached. In Fig. 8 the armature (1 moved to the right first and the armature s to the left sceondly, thereby causing pin 110 to contact with contact-plate 102. In Fig. 11 the armature q moved to the left first and the armature s to the right secondly, causing pin 111 to contact with plate 104:. In Fig. 12 armature (1 moved to the left first and armature s to the left secondly, thereby causing pin 110 to contact with contact-plate 103. From this it will be seen that my invention comprises polarized relays having keys for producing different polarity effects therein, the ability to energize one relay before the other, the so shaping of the ends of the armature that the polarity effects and the operation of one relay before the other enables the operator to so position the ends of the armatures as to bring either the pin 110, as desired, into contact with either one of the contact-plates 102 103 106 107 at will, and the pin 111, as desired, into contact with either one of contact-plates 104, 105, 108, and 109 at will, and thereby connect the different local circuits terminating in said contact-plates. In a simiback to the battery 0.

lar manner the armatures can be madeto assume the difierent positions shown in Figs. 7 to 12, inclusive, by operation of the proper keys in proper succession. The system, how ever, by which these results are attained forms the subject-matter of my application Serial No. 79,122, and is therein fully described.

In Fig. 13 is illustrated a construction whereby it is possible to employ two armatures similar in construction to armature s, but arranged to cooperate with a single armature q. In this figure it is to be noted that the pins 110 and 111 extend both aboveand below the armature and that the extremities of the armatures 4' and s are arranged to face each other horizontally. The system of circuits which passes through these armatures is arranged so that while relays a and s and a and 0' may be made to operate together it is never possible for all three to operate at one time. In order to better illustrate the application of these relays in a selective system, an outline of the circuits passing through these relays had been illustrated in Fig. 3. Connected with this series of circuits is a keyboard comprising the keys f, g, h, 2', j, and

k and also switch-key a.

For a detailed description of the operation of the switch-key a and the operation of the contact-points 1 6, 2 5, 3 4 reference is made to my copending application, Serial No. 79,122.

Suppose it is desired to operate relays a and p. The key a is first depressed in order to complete a circuit through battery (4' and relay 0, thereby drawing armature cl, with its contacts 1, 2, and 3, from the contactpoints 4, 5, and 6, and thus placing the keys 7t, 6, g, j, and it in operative condition. These keys consist of two conducting-plates 54 and 55, for example, united by some insulating material, whereby when the key is pressed against the contact-points of wires 7, 8, 9, and 10, for example, the current may pass from wire 7 through contact-plate 54 to wire 8 and from Wire 9 through contact-plate 55 to wire 10. When key 2' is depressed, a current may be traced from battery 00 through wire 12, contact-plate 56, wires 11', 33, 34, and 35, relay 9, wires 36, 37, and 38, relay 3), wires 39, 40, and 41, return-Wire 42, wires43 13 14 and This current will actuate the armatures s and s of the relays p and p and move armature s to the left and armature s to the right as one looks at Fig. 3. Now upon depressing key f a current may be traced from battery y through wires 22 and 18, contact-plate 59, wire 17, return wire 42, wire 41, relayn, wire 15, contactplate 58, wire 16, wire 24 back to the battery.

In so doing it is seen that the extremity of the armature q of relay n has been moved upwardly as one views Fig. 3.

' current has been established through arma- Therefore a were again depressed and the current sent through relaysp and p, as before; but suppose now that key 9 is depressed instead of key 7". The current may now be traced from battery y, through wire 22, contact-plate 60, wire 21,

wire 15, relay 9]., wire 41, return-wire 42, wires 43 23, contact-plate 61, wire 24 back to battery y. It is now seen that the positive pole of battery 1 has been presented to the reverse pole of relay a, whereby armature q is moved downwardly before s is operated and a different contact-plate on armature s of relay 1) is brought in contact with the pin on armature q, as before described. Similar currents may be traced through the various relays a, a, 0, p, and p, and by so doing it will be noticed that. while in some instances both relays p and p are actuated at the same time, only one of the two relays a and n is actuated in conjunction therewith. Therefore only one of armatures s and s becomes active in conducting a circuit through the armatures q or q. In other words, as before stated, While either one of the armatures r and 8 may be actuated when armature q is actuated, the three armatures r, s, and q are never actuated at the same time. Similarly, it is only when armatures q and s are both actuated that this set of relays a and 9 becomes effective.

The construction of the relays illustrated and described in this specification and the arrangement of these relays in sets of two form a simple but extremely-efficient system, whereby a large number of circuits be selected through the medium of the minimum number of line-wires and batteries.

I do not limit my invention to the exact details herein described and shown, but desire to claim the same in the broadest possible terms, admitting of a great variety of modifications.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to patent, is-

1. In aselective device, aplurality of relays; armatures for said relays; a plurality of contacts on said armatures; means for'energizing either one of said relays before the other; and means for connecting any one of the contacts on one armature with any one of the contacts on the other of said armatures.

2. In aselective apparatus, aplurality ofrelays; armatures for said relays; a source of electrical energy; means for energizing either of said relays before the other; a plurality of contacts on said armatures; means forcausing said relays to cooperate to engage a contact on one of said armatures with any one of a plurality of contacts on the other of said armatures.

3. In a selective device, a plurality of relays; armatures for said relays; means for energizing said relays; means for energizing either one of said relays before the other; a plurality of contacts on said armatures; said relays interacting to engage any one of the contacts on two of said armatures With one of the contacts on the other of said armatures.

4:. In an electrical apparatus, a plurality of interacting relays; sources of electrical energy to energize said relays; armatures for said relays; electromagnetic means to actuate said armatures in either direction from a central position; electromagnetic means for actuating one of said armatures before the other; a plurality of contacts on one of said armatures; contacts on the other of said armatures; said relays adapted to interact for the purpose of engaging tWo contacts, one on each armature.

5. In an electrical selective apparatus, a plurality of coacting relays; a source of electrical energy to operate said relays; armatures for said relays; the coaction of said armatures cooperating to select and bring into contact any two of a plurality of contacts located one on each of said armatures; and said contacts.

6. In an electrical apparatus, a plurality of coacting relays; armatures for said relays; a plurality of contact-points and contact-plates on the armatures of said relays; electromagnetic means for moving said armatures in either direction from a central position; means for causing one of said armatures to be actuated before the other, whereby one of said contact-points and one of said contact-plates are brought into contact.

7. In a selective apparatus, a plurality of relays; cooperating armatures for said relays; a plurality of contacts attached to said armatures and arranged to permit the engagement of a contact upon each of two of said armatures; electromagnetic means for actuating either of said armatures before the other; and electromagnetic means for actuating both of said armatures in either direction from a central position.

8. In a selective apparatus, a plurality of relays having armatures of similar construction provided with a plurality of contacts thereon, each insulated from the other; a single relay arranged to cooperate With the first-named relays, having an armature diifering in construction from said first-named relays; and means for causing either one of the contacts on either of the first-named relays to engage one of the contacts on the last-named relay.

9. In aselective apparatus, aplurality of relays having armatures of similar construction; electromagnetic means for actuating all said armatures in either direction from a normal central position; a single relay having an armature difl'ering from the others, adapted and arranged to cooperate with the armatures on either of the first-named relays; electromagnetic means for actuating any one of said armatures before the other in either direction; and contacts on the armatures of said relays, the contacts on the last named armatures adapted to contact with the contacts on the single-relay armature.

10. In a selective apparatus, a plurality of sets of relays having armatures of a similar construction; a cooperating relay of different construction arranged to cooperate with either of said first-named relays; and electromagnetic means for operating any one of said armatures before the other in either direction.

11. In a selective apparatus, a plurality of relays having armatures provided with contact-points similarly arranged; a single relay having an armature with contact-points; and means for actuating either the plurality of relays or the single relay first, as desired.

12. In a selective system, a plurality of relays having armatu res; each of said armatures provided with a plurality of contacts; a single relay having an armature provided with a plurality of contact-points differently arranged; and means for bringing either of the contactpoints on one armature in contact With either.

of the contact-points on the other armature, as desired.

13. In a selective system, a plurality of sets of relays having armatu res provided With contact-points similarly arranged; a relay having armatures provided with contact-points clifferently arranged, the armatures of said firstnamed relays adapted to cooperate with the armatures of said last-named relaysfor the selection and closing of an electrical circuit; and electromagnetic means for operating the armatures of one set of relays before the armatures of the other set of relays, and for moving the armatures on all of said relays in either direction from a central position.

14:. In a selective apparatus, a plurality of sets of relays having armatures provided with a plurality of contact-points similarly arranged, each insulated from the other; a single relay adapted to cooperate with each of said sets of relays, said single relay having an armature provided with a plurality of contact-points diiferently arranged from the contact-points on said first-named relays; electromagnetic means for actuating the armatures of either of said sets of relays before the armatures of the other of said relays is actuated; and electromagnetic means for actuating the armatures of all of said relays in either direction from a central position.

15. In a selective apparatus, a plurality of relays; armatures for said relays; insulated blocks mounted on said armatures; a plurality of contact-points mounted on said blocks and insulated from each other; a cooperating relay provided with an armature; contactpoints on the armature of said cooperating relay; and electromagnetic means adapted to bring the contact-points on the cooperating relay in contact With any one of the contactpoints on either of said first-named relays.

16. In a selective apparatus, a plurality of relays, armatures for said relays, insulatingblocks mounted on said armatures, a plurality moving all of said armatures in either direction from a central position.

18. In a selective apparatus, a plurality of relays, armatures for said relays, a plurality of insulated contact-points mounted on said armatures, a cooperating relay, an armature for said relay, contact-points on said armature adapted to engage With one of the contactpoints upon any one of the first-named armatures at a given time.

19. In a selective apparatus, a plurality of relays, armatures for said relays, a plurality of insulated contact-points mounted on said armatures and similarly arranged, a cooperating relay, an armature for said relay, contact-points on said armature difierently arranged, and adapted to engage contact-points upon the first-named armatures.

20. In a selective apparatus, a plurality of relays, armatures for said relays, a plurality of insulated contact-points mounted on said armatures and similarly arranged, a cooperating relay, an armature for said relay, contact-points on said armature adapted to engage one of the contact-points upon any one of the first-named armatures at a given time.

21. In a selective apparatus, a plurality of sets of relays, armatures for said relays, a plurality of insulated contact-points mounted on said armatures, a relay for each of said sets, an armature for said relay having contactpoints differently arranged, and adapted to cooperate with one of the contact-points upon any one of the first-named armatures.

22. In a selective apparatus, a plurality of sets of relays; armatures for said relays; contacts. for said armatures similarly arranged; a cooperating relay for each set; an armature for said relay; contacts on said armatures adapted to cooperate with the contact-points on each of the first-named relays; and means for actuating either the first of said relays or the cooperating relay first, as desired.

23., In a selective apparatus, a relay provided with an armature arranged to move in either direction from a central position; an insulating-block mounted on said armature;

a plurality of contact-plates arranged on said block, having attached thereto the terminals of local circuits; an interacting relay having an armature With contacts thereon attached to the other terminals of said local circuits, its armature arranged to move in either direction from a central position; means for actuating both said armatures either one before the other, whereby any one of a plurality of contacts on one of said armatures Will engage a contact on the other of said armatures.

24. In a selective apparatus, a relay having an armature; aninsulating-block mounted on said armature; a plurality of contact-plates mounted on said insulating-block each insulated from the other; a second relay; contacts mounted on the armature of said second relay; said armatures; the armatures of both said relays cooperating to bring any one of the contacts on one into engagement with one of the contacts on the other of said relays.

25. In a selective apparatus, a relay; an armature therefor; an insulating-block mounted on said armature; a plurality of contacts mounted on said insulating-block; a second relay; an armature therefor; a plurality of contacts on said relay; means for actuating the armatures of both said relays, whereby they Will cooperate to cause one of the contacts on one of said armatures to engage either of the contacts on the other of said armatures.

26. In a selective apparatus, a pair of relays, armatures for said relays, the extremities of said armatures located adjacent to each other, contact-plates on said armatures and a third relay provided With an armature, the extremity of said armature located between the extremities of the first-named armatures, contact-points on said armature cooperating With the contact-plates on the first-named armatures.

27. In a selective apparatus, a pair of relays provided With armatures, the extremity of said armatures located adjacent to each other, contact-plates on said armatures, and a third relay provided with an armature, the extremity of said armature located between the extremities of the first-named armatures, contact-points projecting from either side of said armature, cooperating with the contactpoints on the first-named armatures.

28. In a selective system of the class described, a plate attached to a lever having mounted thereon a plurality of electrical contacts, each insulated from the other; said lever contact-points secured to the end of a lever; said lever; said levers operating through the medium of magnets and a source of electrical energy to bring any one of the contacts said plate and points into electrical contact to close a local circuit; said magnets; a sou rcc of electrical energy and means for energizing either of said magnets before the other.

29. In a selective apparatus, a plurality of sets of relays; armatures for said relays; contact-points on said armatures similarly arranged; a cooperating relay; an armature for said relay; contact-points on said armature adapted to cooperate with butone of the contact-points of each of the si-milarly-constructed armatures in the same set at a given time.

30. In a selective device, a plurality of coacting relays; means for energizing each of said relays; means for energizing either of said relays before the other; armatures for said relays; a plurality of contacts on said armatures; said relays, adapted and arranged to cause the engagement of any pair of the contacts on said armatures.

31. In an electrical selective device, a plurality of coacting relays; a source of electrical energy to energize each of said relays; armatures for said relays; means to actuate one of said armatures before the other; a plurality of contacts on said armatures the contacts on one of said armatures being insulated from each other; said-relays adapted and arranged to engage any two of said contacts.

32. In a selective device, a plurality of polarized relays having a plurality of contacts on their armatures formed and arranged to cooperate for the selection and closing of any one of a plurality of electrical circuits; and means whereby each relay may be independently actuated.

38. In a selective apparatus, a plurality of polarized relays, having a plurality of contacts located on the ends of their armatures, said armatures being formed and arranged so as to cooperate for the selection and closing of any one of a plurality of electrical circuits; and electromagnetic means whereby the armature of each relay may be independently moved in either direction and actuated either one before the other, as desired.

34. In an electrical selective device, a plurality of polarized relays having armatures, to the ends of which are attached a plurality of contacts insulated from each other, said armatures being formed and arranged to cooperate for the selection of any one of a plurality of electrical circuits for the operation of given mechanisms by electromagnetic means whereby the armatures of said relays may be moved in either direction from a central position and in a desired succession, one before the other, by a predetermined polarity effect in said relays independently obtained; and said means for obtaining the polarity effeet in said relays.

35. In a selective device, a plurality of relays; means for actuating said relays; said relays formed and arranged to cooperate for the selection and closing of anyone of a plurality of circuits; electromagnetic means for moving the armatures of said relays in either direction from a central position, and for moving the armature of either one of said relays before the other in a predetermined succession, as desired.

36. An electrical selective mechanism comprising line-circuits; relays in circuit in said line-circuits; armatures for said relays adapted and arranged to cooperate with each other; contacts on the armatures of said relays; a source of electrical energy for each of said line-circuits; means for sending the current in either direction in each line-circuit; means for energizing either line before the other; and means on the armatures of said relays arranged to cooperate for the selection and closing of any one of a plurality of electrical circuits.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two Witnesses.

ALBERT D. NEAL.

Witnesses:

RICHARD P. ELLIOTT, H. M. KnLso. 

